Rugby-owned Aviva fits the bill, send the bill to the FAI

(My idol Claire Tully with some bottles)

by Clare Wolly
Wed, Apr 20 2011

It must be two years ago now since I last wrote something of note. At the time I wrote about the Aviva and how it was going to be the first ever building project that stood out for me in Ireland that wasn’t just scheduled to finish on time but actually ahead of time. Of course, I have an in-depth knowledge of building projects and their planned timelines. This, for me, was impressive because mostly when I think of huge building projects such as the Aviva, running ‘on schedule’ or ‘on budget’ are terms that don’t usually spring to mind. I generally stick to terms such as ‘massive erection’ to be honest.

But back then, Ireland was a different place. OK we were on the brink of losing Gerry Ryan but the average person didn’t really know it. That air of superiority still lingered - it almost felt like even though such a huge game would be played here, some people only acknowledged it in a half-arsed way. Probably because the Europa League is of no interest.

As a country I think we are slowly but surely learning to be humble again and beginning to realise that we should actually be really appreciative of such a huge opportunity. Firstly and most obviously, there is the money that will come into the country at a time when we couldn’t need it more (in which case here’s hoping we get the bigger teams and a shed-load of fans in the final – although Bohs had a shed full of Rovers fans last Friday and still managed to not be happy) and secondly it puts us on the map in terms of hosting big football occasions. Hosting such a prestigious event and doing it well sends out the message that while we may be nothing more than the size of a big city to some of our neighbours, we can step up to the mark. This last sentence does not really make sense, please proceed to the next paragraph.

I think any LOI fan will agree that while we love our league and appreciate what it brings to us, really there is no comparison in terms of stadiums even to our next door neighbours in the 6 counties. Most Premier Division stadiums I have been to have been worlds apart from our equivalent in the Irish League. But that’s not to say we don’t have anything – as far as Irish stadiums go Croke Park and the Aviva would give plenty a run for their money – neither of which are actually owned by a football team or association of course but you didn’t come here for a cogent argument, did you?

Already there’s been talk of what possibilities lie ahead for us should next month’s decider run smoothly. There’s been an optimistic suggestion to make bids for hosting the European Super Cup and the European U-21 Championships alongside Northern Ireland. Although the English FA has already announced that the 2012 Community Shield (which clashes with the Olympic men’s football final) will be held in an English stadium there has been talk in the past of hosting it elsewhere. I don’t think I need to point out just how perfectly we could fit the bill despite the rather obvious fact that we are not hosting the Olympics and that England has lots of stadiums of a very decent standard! Let’s just get excited regardless of facts! Woo-hoo!

Visiting superstars raise the profile of the game here - they’re idols to the kids on the street kicking a ball about. And if that’s what inspires them and in turn keeps a person going to games here then it’s a good thing by me. Although if you can somehow understand how this will work you’re a better understander of the game, the LOI and Irish society than me!